10 A.M OR 10 P.M... KI FARAK PANDA?





Pic.: Indu Varier

It is 10 dot in the morning, now. Reshma, a dear friend of mine, has just sent a message on my phone: “Sir, running late… Should be there in 15 minutes max.”

“No problem Reshma,” I replied instantly.

Reshma has been living in London with her husband and two little-girls. Back home, here in Mumbai, her elderly parents live. They are very sick. Moreover, there is her brother, who has been mentally retarded right from his birth.

Some days ago, Reshma called me up…. “Sir, I am in India,” she said, “I will come and see you in a few days.” Yesterday, she called me up, again, to check with me if she could meet me today. Thus, we fixed it for today morning, at 10…

Ironically, last night, someone had asked some of us to attend a meeting at 10 concerning some issue. All of us were there before time. The gentleman, who had called the meeting, did not turn up till 10.30… Nor did he consider it important to inform us, leave alone feeling bad, apologetic, or guilty about it. He carries two high-end phones with him… and, finally, at 10.30, when he appeared, he could be so cool about it…


The only explanation for why someone like Reshma thinks it is important to inform on being late, and why someone like this gentleman doesn’t think so is: how one values his own and others’ time. Besides this, it, also, comes from how one values his relationship with others…

For someone like Reshma, there is a direct link between the quality of her relationships and the quality of her communication… It is a part of her well-being. And, for someone like the other gentleman, such a link is not established… So, it is not a big deal if, because of your delay, others are made to wait… You can be cool about it…

Reshma can’t…

You and I can’t…

!0 a.m. or 10 p.m. Ki farak panda?

GERALD D’CUNHA

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